Primary Chess Festival 2017

16 schools participated in this year’s Kildare Education Centre Primary Chess Festival. After completing preliminary rounds, schools qualified for the main competition or the Shield.

The finals were held in St Brigid’s Primary School, Kildare Town on Tuesday 14th February 2017.

The final of the main competition was a very close event. It was tied after three matches and it all rested on the last match. Two Mile House NS emerged as winners of the 2017 Kildare Education Centre Primary Debating Festival. St Laurence’s NS, Crookstown were very close runners-up. St Brigid’s Primary School, Kildare Town took the honours in the Shield, with St David’s NS, Naas as runner-up school.

All participants received certificates, acknowledging their achievement on reaching the finals. Prizes were also awarded to St Laurence’s NS, Crookstown and Moone NS for playing the most games in their schools – and encouraging many others to play chess. Almost 400 games of chess were played during the Primary Chess Festival.

Thank YouA big thank you goes to the principal, teachers and staff in St Brigid’s Primary School in Kildare Town for being excellent hosts. Thank you to the fantastic teachers for giving of their time to promote and develop chess in their school, often as an after-school activity. Thank you to the principals in those schools for supporting their teachers and students. Finally, thank you to Liam Murray who was outstanding as co-ordinator for the Chess Festival.